Art Toronto

(NOTE:  The link was broken to yesterdays email on the artist rights lawsuits in California.  Click HERE to read if you missed it.)

The Toronto Star is reporting that Art Toronto has just completed a very productive four day run of sales and visitors. According to the article, there were a record 109 galleries from 13 countries exhibiting at the fair, with VIP collectors up 40% from last year.  The total attendance exceeded 18,000 over the four day fair.

Perhaps more importantly, there were a decent amount of sales in a wide range of value levels.The article states that over 550 pieces which sold were carried out "under the arm", and that does not represent the pieces that were shipped by the selling galleries.  Not bad for difficult financial times.

The Toronto Star reports

Among the financial highlights, Toronto’s Miriam Shiell Gallery sold a 1945 painting by American artist Hans Hofmann, catalyst of abstract expressionism, for “more than half a million dollars,” the gallery reported.

Mississauga’s Rumi Gallery sold a work by Toronto abstract expressionist Jack Bush for “just above $250,000.”

Toronto’s Corkin Gallery sold a large work by Montrealer Francoise Suliven for $85,000 and another four or five pieces in the $50,000-to-$100,000 range.

And for the first time at the show, the Loch Gallery, with locations in Toronto, Calgary and Winnipeg, sold a number of pieces by the second day to break $1 million in sales.

Total sales were estimated by the fair at between $15 million and $18 million, organizers said.

A fundraiser for the Art Gallery of Ontario raised $265,000, which went toward buying several works from the show. Total estimated attendance exceeded 18,000 people.

“On closing night around here, everyone kisses and hugs, and ‘Thank you, I want to come back,’” Rebenchuk said.

Since the inaugural 2000 Toronto International Art Fair, which drew some 80 exhibitors, mega-shows have gained importance in the art world generally.

“This year every gallery brought better artwork, more carefully selected pieces — everybody noticed this right away,” the director said.

Characterizing the Toronto fair as “mid-range” compared to those in Miami, New York and parts of Europe, he said the fair presents “a good opportunity for people starting a collection and people who have never bought a piece of art before.

To read the full article, click HERE.